U.S. patent application number 15/134993 was filed with the patent office on 2017-05-25 for supporting module and motion assistance apparatus including the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Byungjune CHOI, Hyun Do CHOI, Jeonghun KIM, Jongwon LEE, Minhyung LEE, Youn Baek LEE, Se-Gon ROH.
Application Number | 20170143574 15/134993 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58720320 |
Filed Date | 2017-05-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170143574 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHOI; Byungjune ; et
al. |
May 25, 2017 |
SUPPORTING MODULE AND MOTION ASSISTANCE APPARATUS INCLUDING THE
SAME
Abstract
A supporting module including a supporting frame including a
proximal end and a distal end, a connecting plate connected with
the distal end of the supporting frame, a sliding plate in contact
with one face of the connecting plate, a supporting band connected
to both ends of the connecting plate, and an elastic strip
configured to connect the sliding plate and the connecting plate is
disclosed.
Inventors: |
CHOI; Byungjune; (Gunpo-si,
KR) ; ROH; Se-Gon; (Suwon-si, KR) ; LEE;
Minhyung; (Seoul, KR) ; LEE; Youn Baek;
(Yongin-si, KR) ; CHOI; Hyun Do; (Yongin-si,
KR) ; KIM; Jeonghun; (Hwaseong-si, KR) ; LEE;
Jongwon; (Suwon-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
58720320 |
Appl. No.: |
15/134993 |
Filed: |
April 21, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61H 2205/108 20130101;
A61H 2201/1628 20130101; A61H 2203/0406 20130101; A61H 2201/12
20130101; A61H 1/0244 20130101; F16M 13/04 20130101; A61H 2201/5007
20130101; A61H 2201/5015 20130101; A61H 1/024 20130101; A61H
2205/088 20130101; A61H 2201/164 20130101; A61H 3/00 20130101; A61H
2201/0192 20130101; A61H 2201/165 20130101; A61H 2201/1676
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61H 3/00 20060101
A61H003/00; A61H 1/02 20060101 A61H001/02; F16M 13/04 20060101
F16M013/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 19, 2015 |
KR |
10-2015-0162455 |
Claims
1. A support comprising: a supporting frame having a proximal end
and a distal end; a connecting plate configured to connect to the
distal end of the supporting frame, the connecting plate having a
first end and a second end; a sliding plate configured to contact a
rear face of the connecting plate via an elastic force; a
supporting band connected to the first end and the second end of
the connecting plate; and an elastic strip configured to generate
the elastic force to connect the sliding plate and the rear face of
the connecting plate.
2. The support of claim 1, wherein the supporting band comprises: a
first band including a first connector and a second connector, the
first connector and the second connector each having a first end
and a second end with a flexible material therebetween, the first
end of the first connector connected to the first end of the
connecting plate and the first end of the second connector
connected to the second end of the connecting plate; and a second
band having an adjustable length and configured to connect between
the second end of the first connector and the second end of the
second connector.
3. The support of claim 2, wherein the first band and the
connecting plate are configured to move relative to the sliding
plate and the second band when the supporting frame moves.
4. The support of claim 2, wherein the elastic strip is configured
to provide a restoring force to draw the sliding plate toward the
connecting plate when the supporting frame moves.
5. The support of claim 2, wherein the supporting band further
comprises: first rings each configured to connect the connecting
plate to respective ones of the first connector and the second
connector; and second rings each configured to connect the
respective ones of the first connector and the second connector to
the second band.
6. The support of claim 2, wherein the connecting plate has an
accepting groove therein, the accepting groove configured to accept
the distal end of the supporting frame.
7. The support of claim 6, wherein the sliding plate has a guide
groove therein in a direction perpendicular to the supporting band,
and the connecting plate has a protrusion thereon, the protrusion
configured to slide into the guide groove.
8. The support of claim 3, wherein the elastic strip is configured
to pass through the connecting plate in a longitudinal direction of
the supporting band to connect the connecting plate and the sliding
plate.
9. The support of claim 1, further comprising: at least one shock
absorbing pad attached to an inner side face of one of the sliding
plate and the supporting band.
10. A support comprising: a supporting frame; a joint frame
configured to detachably attach to the supporting frame, the joint
frame having an inner side face and an outer side face on opposite
sides thereof; and a supporting band having a first end and a
second end with a flexible material therebetween, the first end of
the supporting band connected to the inner side face of the joint
frame, and the second end of the supporting band configured to
detachably attach to the outer side face of the joint frame.
11. The support of claim 10, wherein the joint frame has a joint
groove on the inner side face thereof such that the joint frame is
configured to accept an end portion of the supporting frame.
12. The support of claim 10, wherein the joint frame includes at
least one fixing rod on the outer side face thereof, and the
supporting band has at least one rod hole therein to accept
respective ones of the at least one fixing rod.
13. A support comprising: a supporting frame; a supporting band
having a looped shape and including at least one shock absorbing
pad attached to an inner side face thereof; at least one movable
wire running on an outer side face of the supporting band in a
longitudinal direction of the supporting band; and a connecting
plate connected to the at least one movable wire, the connecting
plate configured to connect to the supporting frame.
14. The support of claim 13, further comprising: a tube on the
outer side face of the supporting band, the tube configured to
receive the at least one movable wire such that the at least one
movable wire is configured to pass through and move within the
tube.
15. The support of claim 14, wherein the supporting band comprises:
a sliding plate configured to contact with a rear face of the
connecting plate, and wherein the connecting plate is configured to
move on the sliding plate in at least one of upward, downward,
leftward, and rightward directions.
16. The support of claim 15, further comprising: an elastic band
configured to draw the sliding plate toward the connecting plate,
wherein the connecting plate has a protrusion on the rear face
thereof, and the sliding plate has an accepting groove on a front
face thereof, the protrusion configured to slide into the accepting
groove.
17. A motion assistance apparatus comprising: a fixing device
attached to a user; a driver rotatably fixed to the fixing device;
and a support configured to support a portion of a body of the
user, and to rotate in response to a driving force from the driver,
the support including, a supporting frame having a proximal end and
a distal end, the proximal end connected to the driver, a
supporting band connected to the distal end of the supporting
frame, a sliding plate connected to an inner circumferential face
of the supporting band via an elastic force, and an elastic strip
configured to generate the elastic force to connect the sliding
plate and the supporting band.
18. The motion assistance apparatus of claim 17, wherein the
supporting band comprises: a connecting plate having a front face
and a rear face, the front face of the connecting plate configured
to connect to the distal end of the supporting frame, and the rear
face of the connecting plate configured to connect to the sliding
plate; and a first band including a first connector and a second
connector, the first connector and the second connector each having
a first end and a second end with a flexible material therebetween,
the first end of the first connector connected to the first end of
the connecting plate and the first end of the second connector
connected to the second end of the connecting plate.
19. The motion assistance apparatus of claim 18, wherein, when the
driver generates the driving force, the supporting frame is
configured to move with respect to the sliding plate in a direction
perpendicular to the supporting band.
20. The motion assistance apparatus of claim 19, wherein the
elastic strip is configured to pass through the connecting plate in
a longitudinal direction of the supporting band to connect the
connecting plate and the sliding plate, and the elastic strip is
configured to provide a restoring force to draw the sliding plate
toward the connecting plate when the supporting frame moves.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 to Korean
Patent Application No. 10-2015-0162455, filed on Nov. 19, 2015, in
the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of
which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] At least one example embodiment relates to a supporting
module and/or a motion assistance apparatus including the
supporting module.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] With the onset of rapidly aging societies, a number of
people are experiencing inconvenience and/or pain from joint
problems. Thus, there is a growing interest in motion assistance
apparatuses enabling the elderly and/or patients having joint
problems to walk with less effort. The motion assistance
apparatuses may include active joint structures including hydraulic
systems and/or driving motors to drive each joint portion to
improve muscular strength of legs of the users.
SUMMARY
[0006] Some example embodiments relate to a support.
[0007] In some example embodiments, the support includes a
supporting frame having a proximal end and a distal end; a
connecting plate configured to connect to the distal end of the
supporting frame, the connecting plate having a first end and a
second end; a sliding plate configured to contact a rear face of
the connecting plate via an elastic force; a supporting band
connected to the first end and the second end of the connecting
plate; and an elastic strip configured to generate the elastic
force to connect the sliding plate and the rear face of the
connecting plate.
[0008] In some example embodiments, the supporting band includes a
first band including a first connector and a second connector, the
first connector and the second connector each having a first end
and a second end with a flexible material therebetween, the first
end of the first connector connected to the first end of the
connecting plate and the first end of the second connector
connected to the second end of the connecting plate; and a second
band having an adjustable length and configured to connect between
the second end of the first connector and the second end of the
second connector.
[0009] In some example embodiments, the first band and the
connecting plate are configured to move relative to the sliding
plate and the second band when the supporting frame moves.
[0010] In some example embodiments, the elastic strip is configured
to provide a restoring force to draw the sliding plate toward the
connecting plate when the supporting frame moves.
[0011] In some example embodiments, the supporting band further
includes first rings each configured to connect the connecting
plate to respective ones of the first connector and the second
connector; and second rings each configured to connect the
respective ones of the first connector and the second connector to
the second band.
[0012] In some example embodiments, the connecting plate has an
accepting groove therein, the accepting groove configured to accept
the distal end of the supporting frame.
[0013] In some example embodiments, the sliding plate has a guide
groove therein in a direction perpendicular to the supporting band,
and the connecting plate has a protrusion thereon, the protrusion
configured to slide into the guide groove.
[0014] In some example embodiments, the support the elastic strip
is configured to pass through the connecting plate in a
longitudinal direction of the supporting band to connect the
connecting plate and the sliding plate.
[0015] In some example embodiments, the support includes at least
one shock absorbing pad attached to an inner side face of one of
the sliding plate and the supporting band.
[0016] Some other example embodiments also relate to a support.
[0017] In some example embodiments, the support includes a
supporting frame; a joint frame configured to detachably attach to
the supporting frame, the joint frame having an inner side face and
an outer side face on opposite sides thereof; and a supporting band
having a first end and a second end with a flexible material
therebetween, the first end of the supporting band connected to the
inner side face of the joint frame, and the second end of the
supporting band configured to detachably attach to the outer side
face of the joint frame.
[0018] In some example embodiments, the joint frame has a joint
groove on the inner side face thereof such that the joint frame is
configured to accept an end portion of the supporting frame.
[0019] In some example embodiments, the joint frame includes at
least one fixing rod on the outer side face thereof, and the
supporting band has at least one rod hole therein to accept
respective ones of the at least one fixing rod.
[0020] Some other example embodiments also relate to a support.
[0021] In some example embodiments, the support includes a
supporting frame; a supporting band having a looped shape and
including at least one shock absorbing pad attached to an inner
side face thereof; at least one movable wire running on an outer
side face of the supporting band in a longitudinal direction of the
supporting band; and a connecting plate connected to the at least
one movable wire, the connecting plate configured to connect to the
supporting frame.
[0022] In some example embodiments, the support includes a tube on
the outer side face of the supporting band, the tube configured to
receive the at least one movable wire such that the at least one
movable wire is configured to pass through and move within the
tube.
[0023] In some example embodiments, the supporting band includes a
sliding plate configured to contact with a rear face of the
connecting plate, and wherein the connecting plate is configured to
move on the sliding plate in at least one of upward, downward,
leftward, and rightward directions.
[0024] In some example embodiments, the support includes an elastic
band configured to draw the sliding plate toward the connecting
plate, wherein the connecting plate has a protrusion on the rear
face thereof, and the sliding plate has an accepting groove on a
front face thereof, the protrusion configured to slide into the
accepting groove.
[0025] Some other example embodiments relate to a motion assistance
apparatus.
[0026] In some example embodiments, the motion assistance apparatus
includes a fixing device attached to a user; a driver rotatably
fixed to the fixing device; and a support configured to support a
portion of a body of the user, and to rotate in response to a
driving force from the driver.
[0027] In some example embodiments, the support includes a
supporting frame having a proximal end and a distal end, the
proximal end connected to the driver, a supporting band connected
to the distal end of the supporting frame, a sliding plate
connected to an inner circumferential face of the supporting band
via an elastic force, and an elastic strip configured to generate
the elastic force to connect the sliding plate and the supporting
band.
[0028] In some example embodiments, the supporting band includes a
connecting plate having a front face and a rear face, the front
face of the connecting plate configured to connect to the distal
end of the supporting frame, and the rear face of the connecting
plate configured to connect to the sliding plate; and a first band
including a first connector and a second connector, the first
connector and the second connector each having a first end and a
second end with a flexible material therebetween, the first end of
the first connector connected to the first end of the connecting
plate and the first end of the second connector connected to the
second end of the connecting plate.
[0029] In some example embodiments, when the driver generates the
driving force, the supporting frame is configured to move with
respect to the sliding plate in a direction perpendicular to the
supporting band.
[0030] In some example embodiments, the elastic strip is configured
to pass through the connecting plate in a longitudinal direction of
the supporting band to connect the connecting plate and the sliding
plate, and the elastic strip is configured to provide a restoring
force to draw the sliding plate toward the connecting plate when
the supporting frame moves.
[0031] Additional aspects of example embodiments will be set forth
in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be
apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more
readily appreciated from the following description of example
embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of
which:
[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a motion assistance
apparatus and a supporting module according to some example
embodiments;
[0034] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an example of a supporting module
according to some example embodiments;
[0035] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate another example of a supporting
module according to some example embodiments;
[0036] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrates an example of an operation of a
supporting module according to some example embodiments;
[0037] FIG. 6 illustrates still another example of a supporting
module according to some example embodiments;
[0038] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate another example of an operation
of a supporting module according to some example embodiments;
[0039] FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate yet another example of a
supporting module according to some example embodiments; and
[0040] FIGS. 9A through 10B illustrate still another example of an
operation of a supporting module according to some example
embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0041] Hereinafter, some example embodiments will be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Regarding the
reference numerals assigned to the elements in the drawings, it
should be noted that the same elements will be designated by the
same reference numerals, wherever possible, even though they are
shown in different drawings. Also, in the description of
embodiments, detailed description of well-known related structures
or functions will be omitted when it is deemed that such
description will cause ambiguous interpretation of the present
disclosure.
[0042] It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to
limit this disclosure to the particular example embodiments
disclosed. On the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all
modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the
scope of the example embodiments. Like numbers refer to like
elements throughout the description of the figures.
[0043] In addition, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b),
and the like may be used herein to describe components. Each of
these terminologies is not used to define an essence, order or
sequence of a corresponding component but used merely to
distinguish the corresponding component from other component(s). It
should be noted that if it is described in the specification that
one component is "connected", "coupled", or "joined" to another
component, a third component may be "connected", "coupled", and
"joined" between the first and second components, although the
first component may be directly connected, coupled or joined to the
second component.
[0044] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As
used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the," are intended
to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms
"comprises," "comprising," "includes," and/or "including," when
used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0045] It should also be noted that in some alternative
implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the
order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in
succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or
may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the
functionality/acts involved.
[0046] Example embodiments may be described with reference to acts
and symbolic representations of operations (e.g., in the form of
flow charts, flow diagrams, data flow diagrams, structure diagrams,
block diagrams, etc.) that may be implemented in conjunction with
units and/or devices discussed in more detail below. Although
discussed in a particularly manner, a function or operation
specified in a specific block may be performed differently from the
flow specified in a flowchart, flow diagram, etc. For example,
functions or operations illustrated as being performed serially in
two consecutive blocks may actually be performed simultaneously, or
in some cases be performed in reverse order.
[0047] Units and/or devices according to one or more example
embodiments may be implemented using hardware, software, and/or a
combination thereof. For example, hardware devices may be
implemented using processing circuitry such as, but not limited to,
a processor, Central Processing Unit (CPU), a controller, an
arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a
microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a
System-on-Chip (SoC), a programmable logic unit, a microprocessor,
or any other device capable of responding to and executing
instructions in a defined manner.
[0048] Software may include a computer program, program code,
instructions, or some combination thereof, for independently or
collectively instructing or configuring a hardware device to
operate as desired. The computer program and/or program code may
include program or computer-readable instructions, software
components, software modules, data files, data structures, and/or
the like, capable of being implemented by one or more hardware
devices, such as one or more of the hardware devices mentioned
above. Examples of program code include both machine code produced
by a compiler and higher level program code that is executed using
an interpreter.
[0049] For example, when a hardware device is a computer processing
device (e.g., a processor, Central Processing Unit (CPU), a
controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal
processor, a microcomputer, a microprocessor, etc.), the computer
processing device may be configured to carry out program code by
performing arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations,
according to the program code. Once the program code is loaded into
a computer processing device, the computer processing device may be
programmed to perform the program code, thereby transforming the
computer processing device into a special purpose computer
processing device. In a more specific example, when the program
code is loaded into a processor, the processor becomes programmed
to perform the program code and operations corresponding thereto,
thereby transforming the processor into a special purpose
processor.
[0050] Software and/or data may be embodied permanently or
temporarily in any type of machine, component, physical or virtual
equipment, or computer storage medium or device, capable of
providing instructions or data to, or being interpreted by, a
hardware device. The software also may be distributed over network
coupled computer systems so that the software is stored and
executed in a distributed fashion. In particular, for example,
software and data may be stored by one or more computer readable
recording mediums, including the tangible or non-transitory
computer-readable storage media discussed herein.
[0051] According to one or more example embodiments, computer
processing devices may be described as including various functional
units that perform various operations and/or functions to increase
the clarity of the description. However, computer processing
devices are not intended to be limited to these functional units.
For example, in one or more example embodiments, the various
operations and/or functions of the functional units may be
performed by other ones of the functional units. Further, the
computer processing devices may perform the operations and/or
functions of the various functional units without sub-dividing the
operations and/or functions of the computer processing units into
these various functional units.
[0052] Units and/or devices according to one or more example
embodiments may also include one or more storage devices. The one
or more storage devices may be tangible or non-transitory
computer-readable storage media, such as random access memory
(RAM), read only memory (ROM), a permanent mass storage device
(such as a disk drive), solid state (e.g., NAND flash) device,
and/or any other like data storage mechanism capable of storing and
recording data. The one or more storage devices may be configured
to store computer programs, program code, instructions, or some
combination thereof, for one or more operating systems and/or for
implementing the example embodiments described herein. The computer
programs, program code, instructions, or some combination thereof,
may also be loaded from a separate computer readable storage medium
into the one or more storage devices and/or one or more computer
processing devices using a drive mechanism. Such separate computer
readable storage medium may include a Universal Serial Bus (USB)
flash drive, a memory stick, a Blu-ray/DVD/CD-ROM drive, a memory
card, and/or other like computer readable storage media. The
computer programs, program code, instructions, or some combination
thereof, may be loaded into the one or more storage devices and/or
the one or more computer processing devices from a remote data
storage device via a network interface, rather than via a local
computer readable storage medium. Additionally, the computer
programs, program code, instructions, or some combination thereof,
may be loaded into the one or more storage devices and/or the one
or more processors from a remote computing system that is
configured to transfer and/or distribute the computer programs,
program code, instructions, or some combination thereof, over a
network. The remote computing system may transfer and/or distribute
the computer programs, program code, instructions, or some
combination thereof, via a wired interface, an air interface,
and/or any other like medium.
[0053] The one or more hardware devices, the one or more storage
devices, and/or the computer programs, program code, instructions,
or some combination thereof, may be specially designed and
constructed for the purposes of the example embodiments, or they
may be known devices that are altered and/or modified for the
purposes of example embodiments.
[0054] A hardware device, such as a computer processing device, may
run an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications
that run on the OS. The computer processing device also may access,
store, manipulate, process, and create data in response to
execution of the software. For simplicity, one or more example
embodiments may be exemplified as one computer processing device;
however, one skilled in the art will appreciate that a hardware
device may include multiple processing elements and multiple types
of processing elements. For example, a hardware device may include
multiple processors or a processor and a controller. In addition,
other processing configurations are possible, such as parallel
processors.
[0055] Various example embodiments will now be described more fully
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some example
embodiments are shown. In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers
and regions are exaggerated for clarity.
[0056] FIG. 1 illustrates a motion assistance apparatus and a
supporting module according to some example embodiments.
[0057] Referring to FIG. 1, a motion assistance apparatus 1 may be
worn by a user to assist a motion of the user. The user may be a
human, an animal, or a robot. However, example embodiments are not
limited thereto. Further, although FIG. 1 illustrates a case in
which the motion assistance apparatus 1 assists a motion of a thigh
of the user, the motion assistance apparatus 1 may also assist a
motion of another part of an upper body, for example, a hand, an
upper arm, and a lower arm of the user, or a motion of another part
of a lower body, for example, a foot, and a calf of the user. The
motion assistance apparatus 1 may assist a motion of a part of the
user. Hereinafter, a case in which the motion assistance apparatus
1 assists a motion of a thigh of a human will be described as an
example.
[0058] The motion assistance apparatus 1 may include a fixing
module 30, a driving module 40, a rotating joint 60, and a
supporting module 100. Further, the motion assistance apparatus 1
may include a controller (not shown).
[0059] The fixing module 30 may be attached to the user, and
configured to cover a portion of an external surface of the user.
For example, the fixing module 30 may be attached to one side of a
waist of the user, and include a curved surface corresponding to a
contact portion of the user.
[0060] The driving module 40 may provide power to be transmitted to
the rotating joint 60. For example, the driving module 40 may be
disposed in a lateral direction of the rotating joint 60, in
detail, such that an axis of rotation of the driving module 40 may
be spaced apart from an axis of rotation of the rotating joint 60.
In this example, when compared to a case in which the driving
module 40 and the rotating joint 60 share an axis of rotation, a
height of a portion protruding from the user may relatively
decrease. The driving module 40 may be disposed to be spaced apart
from the rotating joint 60 much more than is illustrated in the
drawings. In this example, a power transmitting module may be
additionally provided to transmit power from the driving module 40
to the rotating joint 60. The power transmitting module may be a
rotary body such as, for example, a gear, or a longitudinal member
such as, for example, a wire, a cable, a string, a rubber band, a
spring, a belt, and a chain.
[0061] The rotating joint 60 may rotate by receiving power from the
driving module 40. The rotating joint 60 may assist a motion of a
joint portion of the user. The rotating joint 60 may be disposed on
one side of the fixing module 30 at a position corresponding to the
joint portion of the user. For example, the rotating joint 60 may
be disposed on one side of a hip joint of the user. One side of the
rotating joint 60 may be connected to the driving module 40, and
another side of the rotating joint 60 may be connected to the
supporting module 100.
[0062] The supporting module 100 may support a part of the user,
and assist a motion of the part of the user. The supporting module
100 configured to rotate using rotation power of a joint assembly
46 may include a hinge combination structure combined with the
rotating joint 60. In this example, by a hinge axis of the hinge
connection structure and an axis of rotation of the rotating joint
60, the supporting module 100 may perform a two degree of freedom
(DOF) motion with respect to the fixing module 30.
[0063] The supporting module 100 may include a supporting frame
110, a sliding plate 120 and a supporting band 130.
[0064] The supporting frame 110 may transmit power to a part of the
user. One end portion of the supporting frame 110 may be rotatably
connected to the rotating joint 60, and another end portion of the
supporting frame 110 may be connected to the supporting band 130 to
transmit power to a part of the user. For example, the supporting
frame 110 may push or pull a thigh of the user. The supporting
frame 110 may extend and be bent in a longitudinal direction of the
thigh of the user to cover at least a portion of the circumference
of the thigh of the user. The supporting frame 110 may be provided
in a shape of the thigh to be in close contact with the thigh,
thereby minimizing a degree of separation occurring in an
operation.
[0065] The one end portion of the supporting frame 110 may be
disposed on a side surface of the thigh of the user, and the other
portion of the supporting frame 110 may be disposed on a front
surface of the thigh of the user. A surface on the side of the one
end portion of the supporting frame 110 may be orthogonal to a
surface on the side of the other end portion of the supporting
frame 110. Through this, the supporting frame 110 may transfer a
driving force from an output end of the driving module 40, for
example, an actuator, to the thigh of the user as a normal
force.
[0066] The supporting band 130 may be connected to the other end
portion of the supporting frame 110 to apply force to a portion of
the user. For example, the supporting band 130 may be disposed
along the front surface of the thigh of the user, or in a
circumferential direction of the thigh of the user to push or pull
the thigh of the user. The supporting band 130 may include a curved
surface corresponding to the thigh of the user, and be configured
to extend from the other end portion of the supporting frame 110
toward both sides of the supporting frame 110.
[0067] The controller (not shown) may include a memory and a
processor.
[0068] The memory may be a non-volatile memory, a volatile memory,
a hard disk, an optical disk, and a combination of two or more of
the above-mentioned devices. The memory may be a non-transitory
computer readable medium. The non-transitory computer-readable
media may also be a distributed network, so that the program
instructions are stored and executed in a distributed fashion. The
non-volatile memory may be a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Programmable
Read Only Memory (PROM), an Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory
(EPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a Random
Access Memory (RAM).
[0069] The processor may be implemented by at least one
semiconductor chip disposed on a printed circuit board. The
processor may be an arithmetic logic unit, a digital signal
processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable array, a
programmable logic unit, a microprocessor or any other device
capable of responding to and executing instructions in a defined
manner.
[0070] The processor may be programmed with instructions that
configure the processor into a special purpose computer to instruct
the driving module 40 to generate power and to transmit the
generated power, via the rotating joint 60, to the supporting
module 100 to move the supporting frame 110 upward or downward,
while the sliding plate 120 and the supporting band 130 are in
close contact with the body of the user. Thus, the supporting frame
110 may move upward or downward relative to the sliding plate 120
and the supporting band 130.
[0071] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the supporting module 100 in an
assembled state. FIG. 2A is a front side view of the supporting
module 100 and FIG. 2B is a bottom view of the supporting module
100.
[0072] Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the supporting frame 110 may
spirally extend downward from the driving module 40 to the
supporting band 130.
[0073] The supporting band 130 may include a connecting plate 131
connected to the supporting frame 110. The supporting band 130 may
further include two first rings 132 configured to connect the
connecting plate 131 and respective connectors 133 that are each
attached to different sides of a second band 135.
[0074] The connecting plate 131 may move in connection with the
supporting frame 110. The connecting plate 131 may be connected
with the sliding plate 120. Irrespective of whether the supporting
frame 110 moves, a rear face of the connecting plate 131 may be
maintained to be in surface contact with a front face of the
sliding plate 120.
[0075] Both ends of the connecting plate 131 may be connected with
two connectors 133 formed with a flexible material. A second band
135 of which a length is adjustable may connect the two connectors
133. The second band 135 may cover a rear portion of a thigh of a
user and lift the thigh through the driving module 40.
[0076] An inner side face of the second band 135 and a rear face of
the sliding plate 120 may be in close contact with the thigh of the
user. Thus, a shock absorbing pad may be attached to the inner side
face of the second band 135 and to the rear face of the sliding
plate 120, thereby providing an increased comfort to the user.
[0077] FIGS. 3 and 4 are exploded perspective views of the
supporting modules 100. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the
supporting module 100 viewed at the front of the supporting module
100. FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the supporting module viewed
at the rear of the supporting module 100.
[0078] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the supporting module 100 may
include the supporting frame 110, the sliding plate 120 and the
supporting band 130.
[0079] The supporting frame 110 may have a front end portion 111
and a distal end 112. An outer circumferential face of the
supporting band 130 may be connected to the distal end 112 of the
supporting frame 110. The sliding plate 120 may be connected to an
inner circumferential face of the supporting band 130 via an
elastic strip 138 configured to connect the sliding plate 120 and
the supporting band 130. The sliding plate 120 may be configured to
move relative to the supporting band 130.
[0080] The supporting frame 110 and the supporting band 130 may be
connected through a plane joint corresponding to a connection
scheme of the sliding plate 120 and the connecting plate 131. The
plane joint may minimize a protruding length of the supporting band
130, thereby forming a structure having a size wearable in clothes
of the user.
[0081] The supporting band 130 may be configured in a form of loop.
The distal end 112 of the supporting frame 110 may be connected to
the outer circumferential face of the supporting band 130. The
sliding plate 120 may be connected to an inner face side of a
portion of the supporting band 130 by the elastic strip 138. In
this example, the portion of the supporting band 130 may be
connected to the supporting frame 110.
[0082] The supporting band 130 may include the connecting plate
131, the first rings 132, the connectors 133, second rings 134, and
the second band 135.
[0083] The connecting plate 131 may have a front face connected to
the distal end 112 of the supporting frame 110 and a rear face
connected to the sliding plate 120. The second band 135 may have an
adjustable length and be connected to both ends of a first
band.
[0084] The connector 133 may include a fabric band 1331 formed with
an elastic material and a connector wire 1332 fixed to the fabric
band 1331 along an outer border of the fabric band 1331. The fabric
band 1331 and the connector wire 1332 may have elasticity and thus,
be bent by an external force.
[0085] The connecting plate 131 may include a first end and a
second end each connected to a respective one of the connectors 133
that are formed with a flexible material. For example, the first
end and the second end of the connecting plate 131 may be connected
respective ones of the first rings 132, and each of the first rings
132 may be connected to respective a first end of respective ones
of the flexible connectors 133. A second end of each of the
flexible connectors 133 may be connected, via a respective second
ring 134, to the second band 135.
For example, one end of the connector wire 1332 may be connected to
a rear end of the first ring 132, and the other end of the
connector wire 1332 may be connected to a head end of the second
ring 134. The front end of the second ring 134 may include a slot
and thus, the connector wire 1332 may pass through the slot.
[0086] Based on the connecting plate 131, the two first rings 132
may be symmetrical to each other, the two second rings 134 may be
symmetrical to each other, and the two connectors 133 may be
symmetrical to each other.
[0087] The second band 135 may include a proximal end and a distal
end. The proximal end of the second band 135 may include a band
ring 1352 to be connected to the first band. The tail portion of
the second band 135 may include a length adjuster 1351 including a
hook and loop fastener configured to be folded at a central portion
of the distal end.
[0088] Two slots may be longitudinally formed at a tail end of the
second rings 134 to insert the band ring 1352 or the length
adjuster 1351. For example, a tail end of a first one of the second
rings 134 may be connected with the band ring 1352 of the second
band 135, and a tail end of a second one of the second rings 134
may have the length adjuster 1351 of the second band 135 pass
therethrough. The length adjuster 1351 may pass through an outer
slot of two slots of the second rings 134 toward a center of the
supporting band 130, and pass through an inner slot of the two
slots at the tail ends of the second rings 134 in a direction
separating from the center of the supporting band 130.
[0089] The connecting plate 131 may include an accepting groove
configured to accept the distal end 112 of the supporting frame
110. The accepting groove may be formed in a shape corresponding to
the distal end 112 of the supporting frame 110 to firmly accept the
distal end 112 of the supporting frame 110 and prevent separation
of the distal end 112.
[0090] A front face of the connecting plate 131 may be connected
with a cover 136. A rear face of the connecting plate 131 may be
connected with the sliding plate 120 by the elastic strip 138. The
elastic strip 138 may connect the sliding plate 120 to the
connecting plate 131 in a tensed state and thus, a tensile force
may be exerted between the sliding plate 120 and the connecting
plate 131.
[0091] The sliding plate 120 may include a guide groove 121 in a
direction perpendicular to the supporting band 130 and strip slots
122 may be formed on both sides of the sliding plate 120 to fix the
elastic strip 138. The connecting plate 131 may include a
protrusion insertable in the guide groove 121. The guide groove 121
may assist the connecting plate 131 to translationally move on a
surface of the sliding plate 120 in a direction perpendicular to a
longitudinal direction of the supporting band 130 in lieu of moving
in the longitudinal direction of the supporting band 130.
[0092] At least one shock absorbing pad may be attached to an inner
side face of the sliding plate 120 or an inner side face of the
supporting band 130 to increase a frictional force and reduce a
shock applied to an inner side.
[0093] FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views illustrating an
example of the supporting module 100. FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a
case in which a user is wearing the supporting modules 100, and an
inner circumferential face of the supporting band 130 may be in
contact with a thigh of the user.
[0094] Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the first band may move the
supporting frame 110 relative to the sliding plate 120 and the
second band 135. In response to a movement of the supporting frame
110, the elastic strip 138 may provide a restoring force to prevent
the sliding plate 120 separating from the connecting plate 131.
[0095] Strip slots 122 may be formed on both sides of the sliding
plate 120 to fix the elastic strip 138. When the elastic strip 138
passes through the connecting plate 131 and the strip slots 122 of
the sliding plate 120 in a longitudinal direction of the supporting
band 130, the elastic strip 138 may connect the connecting plate
131 and the sliding plate 120.
[0096] FIG. 5A illustrates an example in which the supporting frame
110 pulls the connecting plate 131 upward relative to the sliding
plate 120 based on various motions of a user. When the connecting
plate 131 is pulled upward, a frictional force may be exerted on
the sliding plate 120 and the second band 135 with respect to the
thigh and thus, may not be pulled upward dissimilarly to the
connecting plate 131.
[0097] The elastic strip 138 may extend by a distance to which the
connecting plate 131 separates from the sliding plate 120 and thus,
exert a restoring force to relocate the connecting plate 131 to an
original position. The elastic strip 138 may be formed in a shape
of, for example, a parallelogram while moving upward.
[0098] Also, the connector wire 1332 of the connector 133 may also
be formed in a shape of, for example, the parallelogram while
moving upward. The connector wire 1332 may have elasticity. Thus,
the connector wire 1332 may exert the restoring force on the
connecting frame 131 by a length to which a diagonal of the
parallelogram is elongated at a level length in a longitudinal
direction of the supporting band 130.
[0099] FIG. 5B illustrates an example in which the supporting frame
110 pushes the connecting plate 131 downward relative to the
sliding plate 120 based on various motions of a user. In this
example, the elastic strip 138 and the connector wire 1332 may
extend to be in the shape of the parallelogram, and exert the
restoring force in an upward direction relative to the connecting
plate 131.
[0100] When the supporting module 100 is applied to the motion
assistance apparatus 1, a compensation for a change in length
resulting from, for example, walking and various motions may be
allowed. The connecting plate 131 may be provided in a form of
passive joint configured to move relative to the sliding plate 120.
Thus, when various motions, for example, an adduction motion, and
walking including a sitting down motion, a standing up motion, a
stepping up motion, and a stepping down motion, are performed, a
position of the supporting band 130 may change while minimizing an
inconvenience and a resistance which the user may experience in
response to the change in the position.
[0101] FIG. 6 is a perspective diagram illustrating a supporting
module according to other example embodiments.
[0102] Referring to FIG. 6, a supporting module 200 may include a
supporting frame 205, a joint frame 210 attachable to and
detachable from the supporting frame 205, and a supporting band 220
formed with a flexible material.
[0103] One end of the supporting band 220 may be connected with an
inner side face of the joint frame 210 and the other end of the
supporting band 220 may extend from the one end in a lateral
direction to be attached to and detached from an outer side face of
the joint frame 210.
[0104] The joint frame 210 may extend in a lateral direction, and
then spirally twist and extend in a longitudinal direction. The
joint frame 210 may have the same form as a lower end portion of
the supporting frame 110 of the supporting module 100 discussed
supra with regards to FIGS. 1 to 5B. The supporting band 220 may be
connected with a portion between a middle portion and a lower end
portion of an inner side face of the joint frame 210 using an
adhesive or a hook and fastener.
[0105] A portion of the joint frame 210 may extend upward, and a
length of the supporting frame 205 may be adjusted based on the
extended portion of the joint frame 210. Thus, the supporting frame
205 of the supporting module 200 may be formed to be shorter than
the supporting frame 110 of the supporting modules 100.
[0106] The supporting band 220 may spirally extend downward from
the middle portion of the joint frame 210 to the lower end portion
of the joint frame 210. When the supporting band 220 extends to a
lowermost end portion of the joint frame 210, the supporting band
220 may extend in the lateral direction. The supporting band 220
may extend to have a sufficient length corresponding to various
circumferences of a thigh of a user.
[0107] The joint frame 210 may include a joint groove 213 formed on
the inner side face of the joint frame 210 to accept an end portion
of the supporting frame 205. The joint frame 210 may also include
at least one fixing rod 214 formed on an outer side face of the
joint frame 210. A joint guide 211 may be formed at an upper end of
the joint frame 210 such that the joint frame 210 is readily
attached to and detached from the supporting frame 205. A loop and
fastener 215 may be attached between the fixing rods 214 of the
joint frame 210 to fix the other end of the supporting band
220.
[0108] The supporting band 220 may include at least one rod hole
222 formed on the inner side face of the supporting band 220 to
accept the fixing rod 214. A nonwoven fabric 223 may be attached to
the inner side face of the other end of the supporting band 220 to
be attached to the hook and fastener 215. The supporting module 200
is provided in a simple structure including overall two parts and
thus, a user may easily wear and remove the supporting module 200
with one hand.
[0109] A close-contact plate 221 may be attached to the outer side
face of the supporting band 220 disposed adjacent to the lower end
portion of the joint frame 210. The close-contact plate 221 may be
formed with a nitinol material or a carbon steel material. The
nitinol material and the carbon steel material may be shape memory
alloy materials. Thus, the nitinol material or the carbon steel
material may allow the supporting band 220 to have a restoring
force such that the supporting band 220 is restored to be in an
original shape from a tensed state. The close-contact plate 221 may
be additionally attached to a portion adjacent to the nonwoven
fabric 223.
[0110] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate an example of an operation of the
supporting module 200. FIG. 7A illustrates an example in which the
supporting frame 205 is pulled upward. FIG. 7B illustrates an
example in which a force is applied to the supporting frame 205 to
be pushed downward.
[0111] Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the supporting band 220 may be
formed with an elastic material, and the joint frame 210 may be
formed with a hard material.
[0112] In response to the supporting frame 205 pulled upward as
illustrated in FIG. 7A, a portion of the supporting band 220
connected with the joint frame 210 may also be pulled upward.
Conversely, in response to the supporting frame 205 pushed downward
as illustrated in FIG. 7B, a portion of the supporting band 220
connected with the joint frame 210 may also be pushed downward.
[0113] A portion of the supporting band 220 disposed on an opposite
side of the portion connected with the joint frame 210 may not move
upward or downward due to a frictional force with respect to a
thigh of a user. The supporting band 220 may have elasticity. Thus,
when a force is applied to the supporting frame 205, the portion of
the supporting band 220 connected with the joint frame 210 may be
elongated to allow the supporting frame 205 to easily perform
translational movement.
[0114] A portion including the close-contact plate 221 formed with
a metal material on the supporting band 220 may not be tensed.
Thus, the portion of the supporting band 220 connected with the
joint frame 210 may be tensed in a shape of parallelogram and move
in a vertical direction when the supporting frame 205 moves upward
or downward.
[0115] FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate a supporting module according to
other example embodiments.
[0116] Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, in the example embodiments
discussed above with regard to FIGS. 1-5B, the supporting modules
100 may include the supporting band 130 configured as one layer. In
contrast, in other example embodiments, a supporting module 300 may
include a supporting band 320 on which a movable wire 332 is
disposed and thus, be configured with two layers 330.
[0117] The supporting module 300 may include the supporting band
320 formed in a loop shape and having an inner side face on which a
shock absorbing pad 322 is attached. The supporting module 300 may
further include the movable wire 332 movably fixed on an outer side
face of the supporting band 320 and configured to cover the
supporting band 320 in a longitudinal direction of the supporting
band 320, and a connecting plate 340 connected to the movable wire
332. In this example, the supporting frame 310 may be fixed to the
connecting plate 340.
[0118] When the supporting band 320 is attached to a thigh of a
user, the supporting band 320 may not move in a vertical direction
until the supporting band 320 is detached from the thigh. Thus, the
shock absorbing pad 322 may need to be provided to an inner side of
the supporting band 320. The shock absorbing pad 322 may increase a
frictional force between the supporting band 320 and the thigh of
the user such that the supporting band 320 is firmly attached to
the thigh. Also, the shock absorbing pad 322 may minimize a rubbed
degree to increase a comfort of the user.
[0119] In some example embodiments, to fix the movable wire 332 to
the supporting band 320, a tube 331 may be fixed on the outer side
face of the supporting band 320. A portion of the movable wire 332
may pass though the tube 331 and move in the tube 331. The tube 331
and the movable wire 332 may be disposed on the outer side face of
the supporting band 320 in a form of two columns. On an inner side
face of the tube 331, lubricant may be applied to reduce a friction
with the movable wire 332.
[0120] In other example embodiments, the movable wire 332 may pass
through the supporting band 320 in proximity to the portion on
which the connecting plate 340 is disposed such that the movable
wire 332 may be fixed to the supporting band 320 without need to
use the tube 331.
[0121] In an example, the wire 332 may be formed with an inflexible
and hard material. For example, a Dyneema wire applied to
bulletproof products may be used as the movable wire 332. Since the
movable wire 332 is inflexible, the movable wire 332 may be set to
be longer than the supporting band 320.
[0122] A wire connector 350 may be disposed between an end of the
movable wire 332 and the connecting plate 340 to fix the movable
wire 332. The movable wire 332 may pass through the wire connector
350 in a direction perpendicular to the supporting band 320.
[0123] A sliding plate 323 may be disposed on a central portion of
the supporting band 320 to be in contact with a rear face of the
connecting plate 340. The connecting plate 340 may move on the
sliding plate 323 in at least one of upward, downward, leftward,
and rightward directions. In this example, the connecting plate 340
may move relative to the sliding plate 323.
[0124] The connecting plate 340 and the sliding plate 323 may be
connected to each other by an elastic band 360. Based on an elastic
force of the elastic band 360, the rear face of the connecting
plate 340 and a front face of the sliding plate 323 may be in close
contact with each other.
[0125] The connecting plate 340 may include a protrusion 341
disposed on the rear face of the connecting plate 340. The sliding
plate 323 may include an accepting groove formed on the front face
of the sliding plate 323. The protrusion 341 may be in contact with
the accepting groove of the sliding plate 323. The accepting groove
of the sliding plate 323 may function as, for example, a guide to
restrict a moving range of the connecting plate 340.
[0126] FIGS. 9A through 10B illustrate an example of an operation
of the supporting module 300. FIG. 9A illustrates an example in
which the supporting frame 310 is pulled upward. FIG. 9B
illustrates an example in which the supporting frame 310 is pushed
downward. FIG. 10A illustrates an example in which the supporting
frame 310 moves rightward. FIG. 10B illustrates an example in which
the supporting frame 310 moves leftward.
[0127] FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate an example in which the
supporting frame 310 and the connecting plate 340 move in response
to a motion of a user lifting or lowering a leg in a forward or
backward direction, or a motion of a user spreading or bringing
legs together.
[0128] The elastic band 360 may continually apply a force to
maintain a close contact between the connecting plate 340 and the
sliding plate 323 and thus, the connecting plate 340 and the
sliding plate 323 may not move in a direction of separating from
each other. Through this, despite the connecting plate 340 moving
on the sliding plate 323, a portion of the rear face of the
connecting plate 340 may be consistently in contact with the front
face of the sliding plate 323.
[0129] Also, when the connecting plate 340 moves on the sliding
plate 323, the elastic band 360 may apply a restoring force in a
direction opposite to a moving direction. After the motion of the
user, the restoring force may be applied to rearrange the
connecting plate 340 on the sliding plate 323 to be in an original
state.
[0130] Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, the wire 332 may be changed
into a form of parallelogram in response to the connecting plate
340 moving upward or downward. A distance increasing when the wire
332 arranged in a lateral direction is rearranged in a diagonal
direction may be shorter than a distance obtained by subtracting a
length of the supporting band 320 from an entire length of the wire
332. Thus, the connecting plate 340 may not move upward or downward
in the range of the entire length of the wire 332.
[0131] FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate an example in which the
supporting frame 310 and the connecting plate 340 move in response
to a motion of a user twisting a leg. As an example, when the user
is wearing the supporting module 300 on a right leg, FIG. 10A
corresponds to a motion of outwardly twisting the right leg and
FIG. 10B corresponds to a motion of inwardly twisting the right
leg.
[0132] In FIG. 10A, the connecting plate 340 may translationally
move from a right side to a left side on the sliding plate 323. In
FIG. 10B, the connecting plate 340 may translationally move from
the left side to the right side on the sliding plate 323. In this
example, the wire 332 may move in the tube 331 in a longitudinal
direction of the wire 332.
[0133] When circumstances corresponding to FIGS. 9A through 10B
occur simultaneously, the connecting plate 340 may translationally
move on the sliding plate 323 in the diagonal direction.
[0134] The units and/or modules described herein may be implemented
using hardware components and software components. For example, the
hardware components may include microphones, amplifiers, band-pass
filters, audio to digital convertors, and processing devices. A
processing device may be implemented using one or more hardware
device configured to carry out and/or execute program code by
performing arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations. The
processing device(s) may include a processor, a controller and an
arithmetic logic unit, a digital signal processor, a microcomputer,
a field programmable array, a programmable logic unit, a
microprocessor or any other device capable of responding to and
executing instructions in a defined manner. The processing device
may run an operating system (OS) and one or more software
applications that run on the OS. The processing device also may
access, store, manipulate, process, and create data in response to
execution of the software. For purpose of simplicity, the
description of a processing device is used as singular; however,
one skilled in the art will appreciate that a processing device may
include multiple processing elements and multiple types of
processing elements. For example, a processing device may include
multiple processors or a processor and a controller. In addition,
different processing configurations are possible, such a parallel
processors.
[0135] The software may include a computer program, a piece of
code, an instruction, or some combination thereof, to independently
or collectively instruct and/or configure the processing device to
operate as desired, thereby transforming the processing device into
a special purpose processor. Software and data may be embodied
permanently or temporarily in any type of machine, component,
physical or virtual equipment, computer storage medium or device,
or in a propagated signal wave capable of providing instructions or
data to or being interpreted by the processing device. The software
also may be distributed over network coupled computer systems so
that the software is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.
The software and data may be stored by one or more non-transitory
computer readable recording mediums.
[0136] The methods according to the above-described example
embodiments may be recorded in non-transitory computer-readable
media including program instructions to implement various
operations of the above-described example embodiments. The media
may also include, alone or in combination with the program
instructions, data files, data structures, and the like. The
program instructions recorded on the media may be those specially
designed and constructed for the purposes of example embodiments,
or they may be of the kind well-known and available to those having
skill in the computer software arts. Examples of non-transitory
computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks,
floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD-ROM
discs, DVDs, and/or Blue-ray discs; magneto-optical media such as
optical discs; and hardware devices that are specially configured
to store and perform program instructions, such as read-only memory
(ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory (e.g., USB flash
drives, memory cards, memory sticks, etc.), and the like. Examples
of program instructions include both machine code, such as produced
by a compiler, and files containing higher level code that may be
executed by the computer using an interpreter. The above-described
devices may be configured to act as one or more software modules in
order to perform the operations of the above-described example
embodiments, or vice versa.
[0137] A number of example embodiments have been described above.
Nevertheless, it should be understood that various modifications
may be made to these example embodiments. For example, suitable
results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed
in a different order and/or if components in a described system,
architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner
and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their
equivalents. Accordingly, other implementations are within the
scope of the following claims.
* * * * *